I’ve been a devoted fan of Fold for many years, yet the Flip has caught my attention. Even though I’m a staunch advocate for foldable devices, my fascination with this design is predominantly centered around book-style foldables. There’s just an appealing notion of having both a phone and a tablet with me wherever I go that makes my heart flutter. Nevertheless, I do recognize the charm of flip phones, such as the Galaxy Z Flip 7 and Moto Razr Ultra.
However, I must confess that with the two previously mentioned flip phones, I would be dishonest if I claimed that I wasn’t at least considering one. Until recently, my last significant experience with a flip phone was with the Vivo X Flip, and prior to that, it was the Galaxy Z Flip 3.
As we approached Galaxy Unpacked, I’ve been experimenting with the Galaxy Z Flip 6 intermittently, assessing whether a flip phone could replace a foldable for me. Unlike some of my colleagues here at Android Central, I don’t perceive that happening in the near future. Still, I discovered one particular use case that continues to captivate me.
During my childhood, my handheld gaming experience was confined to a Game Boy Color, which ultimately went missing on a family trip. Following that, I had a brief engagement with the Nintendo DS before transitioning to the PSP, and then the PS Vita. This implies that I never interacted with a Game Boy Advance or its SP version.
This is where the concept of a flip phone resonates, as I have immersed myself in the realm of gaming handhelds. Last year, Anbernic unveiled the RG35XXSP, and the Miyoo Flip made its entrance just before December ended. In 2025, my collection expanded with the addition of more clamshells, including the Retroid Pocket Flip 2, Anbernic RG34XXSP, and more recently, the Powkiddy V90S arriving at my home.
If you haven’t gathered by now, I have developed a fondness for clamshell handhelds at this moment. All except the Pocket Flip 2 are custom Linux-based devices, which are fantastic for the early console days but not so much for anything more contemporary. Thus, while using the Flip 6, it occurred to me to see whether I could substitute all those with a clamshell that boasts significantly better power.
The clear advantage of a clamshell is its compactness, enabling easy sliding in and out of pockets. Additionally, there’s a reduced risk of damaging the screen as you merely close it upon completion of use. I acknowledge that this wasn’t always the scenario with flip phones, but advancements in hinge technology have improved significantly, making it less of a concern for most users.
While those Linux handhelds offer some customization options, the choices remain relatively restricted compared to Android, even with custom firmware alternatives. With this in mind, I embarked on a quest to transform the Galaxy Z Flip 6 into the ultimate Game Boy Advance SP.
The journey begins with locating the appropriate emulator, and fortunately, there is no shortage of options on Android. For Game Boy Advance alone, here are just a few of the available choices:
– Pizza Boy A
– RetroArch
– My Boy!
– GBA.emu
While there are more available, I primarily utilize two, alternating between Pizza Boy A and RetroArch. You might be curious about my reasoning, and the answer is quite simple — Pizza Boy on the main screen, RetroArch on the Cover Screen. I’ve even gone to the extent of making RetroArch my default “lock screen” shortcut for when the Flip 6 is closed.
The excitement doesn’t end there, as you can actually apply various skins from Pizza Boy, enhancing the Flip 6’s resemblance to a Game Boy Advance SP. With considerable research, a bit of time, and a touch of patience, I’ve nearly transformed the Z Flip 6 into the supreme gaming clamshell.
Regrettably, there is one issue with this arrangement — touchscreen controls are dreadful. If it goes beyond playing a puzzle game, Balatro, or for testing emulators, I generally avoid playing games using the touchscreen. Consequently, I needed to think outside the box, as there aren’t many solutions available. Luckily, I own a 3D printer, making it a matter of finding something akin to what I envisioned.
After locating the print, I was able to say goodbye to the touchscreen controls in less than an hour. Admittedly, it isn’t the flawless solution, as I would prefer something utilizing capacitive buttons to interact with the screen, thus offering a more portable option. That might be something I consider exploring in the future, but it wasn’t
